This first episode of the Mongol invasion highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the Mongol art of war. I am not exactly sure if this is true of the other various campaigns of the Mongols on the mainland, but they seemed to have a problem with logistics and supply. On the other hand their warriors were peerless, and they had access to just about every weapon of the age. In fact some believe from archaeological evidence that the Mongols even had simple cannon! One might wonder why on earth they started this campaign so late in the year. I believe it is due to the winds and currents being favorable for this only late in the year, which is part of why Japan has been so classically isolated.



1268 - Khubilai learns of the failure of his second mission to Japan, and determines to invade. The King of Korea is ordered to furnish warships and a large army for the effort.

1268-1273 - The Koreans struggle to meet the excessive demands of the Khan but are simply unable to satisfy them. A vanguard of few thousand Mongol warriors enter Korea in 1273 but return when it is obvious that there isn't enough food around to even feed them and their horses.

1274 - Finally enough supplies and men are gathered for the invasion, and the force sets out from Korea (mostly Pusan). This force is composed of some ~3,000 Mongol Cavalry, 15,000 Mongol and Chinese infantry, and 8,000 light Korean infantry who are demoralized, underfed and hateful of their masters. The fleet consisted of some 7,000 skilled Korean sailors, 300 large transport ships and around 400 smaller craft.

1274 Early November - The isles of Tsushima and Iki are taken without much difficulty though the small Japanese garrisons fight to the last.

1274 November 18th - The Mongol armada lands on various points along the coast of Kyushu, taking a number of footholds and small towns and villages. The Japanese issue a call to arms to all warriors on the isle of Kyushu, (the Dazaifu command).

1274 November 19th - Battle of Hakata. A large Mongol force lands at Imazu to effect a major beachhead for the invasion of Kyushu. Tsunetsugu and his collected Kyushu defense force rush out to meet the landing force in the early morning. The fighting was desperate; the Mongols fought in tight units, use to larger scale and perhaps more sophisticated war, while the Japanese expect to fight honorably in a one-to-one fashion. Additionally the Mongols used crossbows and engines of war which could throw combustible incendiaries. Despite the odds, the bravery of the Japanese warriors holds off the Mongols from advancing further, and by nightfall the exhausted Japanese fall back to ancient earthworks at Mizuki.

1274 November 20th - That night the foul weather picks up, and the Korean Captains press the Mongol generals to withdraw before their ships are destroyed and their forces cut off from retreat. After setting to torch a number of villages and the town of Hakata, the Mongol army retreats to Korea. The weather gets worse and it is said about 200 vessels and some 13,000 men are lost to the sea. Though a big loss, this is not even the Kamakaze of legend...